Putin Tells Finnish President Who Called: "NATO Membership Is a Mistake"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a phone call with the President of Finland, who is pursuing membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), that "Russia poses no threat to Finland's security" and that "Finland's abandonment of its neutral status and NATO membership is a mistake."

Bloomberg News and others reported that Finnish President Sauli Niinist? called President Putin on the 14th (local time) to explain his country's plan to join NATO. This call came just two days after Niinist? declared his country's intention to join NATO.

According to reports, President Niinist? conveyed during the call that Finland intends to submit its NATO membership application within a few days. In a statement, Niinist? said, "The conversation with President Putin was direct and candid and did not lead to a deterioration of the situation," adding, "We valued avoiding tensions between the two countries."

In response, President Putin said during the call, "Russia poses no security threat to Finland," and that "(Finland's) abandonment of its traditional military neutrality policy would be a mistake," according to the Kremlin. Putin also warned, "This change in Finland's foreign policy direction will negatively affect the Russia-Finland relationship, which has been built over a long period in the spirit of good neighborliness and partnership and has been mutually beneficial."

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine. The Kremlin explained, "President Putin shared his assessment of the negotiation process between Russian and Ukrainian representatives, which has effectively been suspended by Ukraine."

Russia has warned that it will take corresponding measures immediately after Finland announced its NATO membership plan. Coinciding with this, from midnight on the same day, a Russian power supply company halted electricity supply to Finland, citing non-payment of fees. Russian electricity accounts for 10% of Finland's power consumption.

The phone call between the Finnish and Russian leaders took place amid sensitive international tensions surrounding Finland and Sweden's NATO membership issues. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an expressed a negative stance on Finland's NATO membership during a meeting with reporters in Istanbul. While President Niinist? opposed Turkey's position, he also expressed hope that Turkey's stance would change. In an interview with a Finnish broadcaster that day, he said, "(President Erdo?an's position) was completely opposite to the messages Turkey has sent us so far," adding, "Considering the U.S. response, further discussions are certain."

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support for Finland and Sweden's NATO membership on the 13th (local time). The U.S. side also stated that it is working to ensure a clearer stance regarding Turkey, which has opposed the NATO membership of the two countries.